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A Self-Serving Sprinkling Device for Cooling Dairy Cattle

Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station

Abstract

Body temperatures and respiration rates of cows were markedly lowered when cows were allowed free access to a mist-like spray in the shade. This occurred in an experiment conducted during late August and early September of 1947 when air temperatures in the shade, taken at 11:00 A.M., averaged 90.7° F. and relative humidity 58.8 percent.

Previous trials had demonstrated that the wetting of cows with water tended to cool them. However, it had been noted that the conventional hose nozzle produced a spray so coarse as to discourage cows from using it. In the present experiment several extremely fine mist-producing nozzles were attached to a water pipe suspended from the ceiling of a bamboo-constructed shade. The conditions produced proved to be especially inviting to milking Jersey cows, with a trend in this direction also for yearling Jersey heifers.

Comparative records kept on body temperatures of the 4 milk cows showed averages of 104.08° F. when in the sun, 101.91° F. when in the shade, and 100.76° F. when using shade with sprinkling device. Respiration rates averaged 113.0, 85.2, and 56.7 times per minute, respectively, under these three conditions. The sprinkling device tended to lower body temperatures and respiration rates to levels considered approximately normal for cool weather.

Two yearling heifers in this same experiment had body temperatures averaging 102.99° F. in the sun, 102.18° F. in the shade and 101.82° F. when allowed to use the shade with sprinkler. Respiration rates showed a similar trend with averages of 110.4, 86.7, and 64 under these respective conditions. In general, the heifers made use of the spray less than did the cows, apparently not feeling as much need for its cooling effect.

¹ Now in charge of Dairy Section, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.

This article has been cited by other articles:

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